Fresh off the excitement of the 2026 WNBA All-Star Game, a seismic off-court storyline has completely hijacked the league’s news cycle. Chicago Sky guard DiJonai Carrington took to social media to level explosive cheating allegations against her ex-girlfriend, Las Vegas Aces forward NaLyssa Smith.
The highly public dispute shatters the illusion of an amicable split between two of women’s basketball’s most recognizable stars. While off-court drama is nothing new in professional sports, the specificity and very public nature of Carrington’s claims have sent fans and insiders into an absolute frenzy.
A Viral Bomb Drop on Threads: The Accusations Explained
The drama ignited on Sunday, July 26, 2026, when Carrington fired off a blunt message on the social media platform Threads. Responding to online chatter that she perceived as disrespectful, the 28-year-old Sky guard pulled no punches.
“Since mfs wanna be funny today ima be hilarious!” Carrington wrote. “yes , nalyssa cheated on me with Deja Kelly and Aaliyah Nye +++ many more”.
The post immediately went viral, generating screenshots that cascaded across X, Instagram, and TikTok. By explicitly naming 25-year-old Smith alongside two other professional basketball players, Carrington turned a private relationship grievance into an undeniable, multi-player WNBA cheating scandal.
The two players dragged into the crossfire have deep ties to both Smith and the broader league landscape. Deja Kelly spent time with the Las Vegas Aces organization during the 2025 preseason before being waived in May of that year. Aaliyah Nye, drafted in the second round of the 2025 WNBA Draft out of Alabama, has spent time with the Aces and the Atlanta Dream. At the time of publication, neither Kelly nor Nye had publicly commented on the situation.
From Baylor Sweethearts to Bitter WNBA Rivals
To fully grasp the magnitude of Sunday’s revelations, one has to trace the timeline of Carrington and Smith’s high-profile romance. The two began dating back in 2020 while sharing the court as teammates at Baylor University. As they transitioned to the pros, they remained a highly visible couple, frequently supporting one another and capturing the adoration of fans.
They even briefly reunited as teammates in the WNBA during the 2025 season with the Dallas Wings. However, Smith was later traded to the Las Vegas Aces on June 30, 2025.
Months later, the relationship quietly concluded. In November 2025, Carrington publicly confirmed the separation but painted a picture of mutual respect. “We’re good, but we’re not together anymore,” Carrington told fans at the time. “It was on good terms – we just grew in different directions”.
This weekend’s digital eruption heavily contradicts that earlier diplomatic stance.
NaLyssa Smith’s Livestream Rebuttal and Lingering Questions
While several initial reports indicated Smith remained silent, she did address the ensuing storm. According to a report by WEUP-FM, the Aces forward took to a livestream broadcast to hit back at her ex-girlfriend’s claims.
During the stream, Smith reportedly questioned Carrington’s motives, pointing out the suspicious timing of bringing up year-old grievances just as the basketball world’s eyes were locked on the All-Star weekend. Smith also pondered why Carrington felt the need to air their dirty laundry and drop specific names on social media, especially since Carrington is reportedly currently involved with Smith’s own Aces teammate, Jackie Young.
That added layer—a current romance involving yet another Las Vegas Aces player—has only added fuel to the intense fan speculation and polarizing debates crowding social media feeds.
What’s Next for the Chicago Sky and Las Vegas Aces Stars?
Right now, the story exists firmly in the realm of social media warfare. There has been no independent confirmation of the cheating claims outside of Carrington’s initial Thread and Smith’s defensive broadcast.
Professionally, both women have immediate hurdles to clear as the second half of the 2026 WNBA season looms. Carrington has been sidelined with a foot injury and has yet to make her official debut in a Chicago Sky uniform this season. However, she is expected to be available following the All-Star break, meaning she will soon have to face the press in a professional capacity. Smith, meanwhile, will continue her campaign with the defending champion Aces, carrying the heavy weight of off-court distractions into the locker room.
The WNBA has steadily grown its audience over the last few years through sheer on-court brilliance and compelling star power. This weekend, however, the league proved that its off-court storylines can be just as dramatic and inescapable as anything drawn up on the hardwood.
Sources Quoted:
Data and quotes were aggregated from reputable sports and news domains including Complex (Mark Elibert), Hindustan Times, Times of India, and WEUP-FM Broadcasting.
Leo Falsafi is a digital marketing veteran and senior journalist at Virlan.co, where he covers the intersection of digital marketing, gaming, and breaking US trending news. With nearly two decades of hands-on experience in SEO and digital strategy, Leo has consulted for and scaled hundreds of companies. His deep industry roots allow him to deliver sharp, fact-checked insights and analysis on the trends shaping today’s digital landscape.
